Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and the Central Nervous System

Expert Discussion Recovery and Regeneration
1

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

I squatted heavy on Monday and played flag football on Tuesday. I know, not necessarily a good idea, but it was unexpected.

I am normally a competitive swimmer, but I’m taking a short break at the end of the season to play some flag football and lift weights. I rarely squat or sprint. Thursday morning the soreness set in and it’s heavy! Quads are extremely sore, hip flexors somewhat sore and hamstrings just a touch sore. I can tell from past experience that it will last for 3-4 more days at least.

Here are my questions.

[b]1. Will the nervous system fatigue last far beyond the muscle soreness?

  1. My upper body is hardly sore at all - would it be a good idea to lift upper body even while my legs are sore? Or would that just fry my nervous system even more?[/b]

I’d like to be ready to play flag football again on Tuesday, and actually contribute. That’s why I ask.

Thanks for any insight, and pray for me in my distress. :wink:

2

bump to the top.

3

I believe that local and general CNS overlab GREATLY yet not enough for a swimmer to worry since the wattage is far less then track sprinting. CNS tapers are about 10 days and DOMS rarely last more than 3-4 days at maximum “soreness”. I think that both CNS fatigue and DOMS work together to send signals of protection to the body.

I like splitting early in the SPP for swimmers and then combine all CNS movements later…also tend to rest legs more during the taper since they are more sensitive in my opinion.

4

Clemson, by local and general CNS fatugue, do you mean CNS fatigue centered in one part of the body, versus fatigue that effects the CNS all over the body?

I had a good fall swim season, by the way. I focused more on CNS fatigue and supercompensation than I ever have.

For the next several weeks, I’ll be playing flag football and lifting weights only.

Thanks for your response!

5

CNS fatigue will hit everywhere.

6

Even a person’s sex life, Dr. Evil??? Even their Gold Member?

7

Thank you Charlie.

When I was ignorant of CNS fatigue, I once induced it so badly (through sprint swimming) that I could hardly drive in the mornings, my eyes were so sensitive to the sunlight. I would literally have to pull over, it was that painful. It was also very frustrating in the pool, because I couldn’t seem to “find my stroke” no matter what I did. If swimming were a heavy contact sport (like running) I probably would have injured myself.

8

I don’t know if you can get into an overtrained state but I doubt there’s anyone here who wouldn’t want to get in on the research!

9

CNS fatigue is based on intensity and motor units…solo goldmember research will only fatigue the local muscles of the wrist and forearm…no taper is needed!